“Happy, happy Rhino’s! A new spin on the classic board game.”

Obsession is a broad compulsion, one freely open to scrutiny and judgement. Obsession could be interpreted as an unhealthy fascination, a symbiotic emotive connection, deliberately instigated and embraced as a way of disconnecting oneself, from the derivative struggles posed by the worlds often cruel resentment towards us (A little over dramatic, but bear with me). But with computer games, it needn’t have quite so dramatic implications, and is not an emotion to fear or resent. But gradually it can become much more than just a mindless distraction, as it begins to commandeer your inhibitions, renders you catatonic at the mere notion of leaving your console to pursue average, everyday excursions, and reducing your mental faculties, as you’re primitively slumped in the corner, rocking back and forth, sullen and mentally immobile, as you hopelessly attempt to drown a fish! This is what Sleeping Dogs has reduced me too, but not for the reasons you might presume?

Yes, the game endorses more gratuitous violence and profanities than the Jeremy Kyle show, “Tourette’s edition”, though it’s not as controversial as Clarkson manipulating a whale fueled rocket, into a Siberian tiger sanctuary. But with the ethical burdens to one side, what Sleeping Dogs does afford is a beautifully textured Hong Kong, brimming with possibilities and endless, self engineered carnage that could only be matched, by a Godzilla/King Kong death-match, both solely nourished on blue smarties. But aside from the satisfying combat that invokes sudden bouts of Jet Lee, inspired poses and facial contortions, that remarkably resembles less of a man skilled in the specialist  technique of martial arts, and more of a man with intestinal complications. But the worrying, more subtlety seductive premise that has hopelessly enslaved me is, is…..*chokes down embittered rage and confusion* KARAOKE!

Why? Through unintentional curiosity perhaps. How? I haven’t, as of yet established the precise reasons or calculations, for the sudden musical infatuation. I’m more attracted to the heavy beats and furious riffs associated with Roadrunner Records station, and the karaoke choices are an inexplicable contrast to my otherwise, riff heavy persuasion. Though the orchestral sounds I believe, bear little significance on my curious favorability to Sleeping Dogs karaoke. The precise intricacies involved when executing karaoke perfection is the most engaging aspect. You become hesitant, continually conscious of the subtle actions required to appease the demanding Rhinoceros, into waving his arms/hooves in an appealing manner, akin to child eagerly spotting the approach of an ice cream truck, on a rare sunny afternoon (If you have yet to play Sleeping Dogs, the Rhino is hard to explain, and I’m not entirely sure if it is a Rhino?).

It’s the most frantic miscellaneous adventure, that requires penetrative concentration, precise, pirouetting timing and nerves of pure adamantium. One anxious, spasmodic movement from your thumb as you manipulate the left stick with precise guidance, to seamlessly connect to the next advancing lines, and hold it…..and its goodbye perfect score, and hello disappointed, myopic looking Rhino. But when your tentatively balancing the left stick, with tiny increments of maneuverability to hit the notes perfectly, you suddenly begin to ascertain why you’ve been at it for over 40 min’s. Distractions such as these are often tenuous diversions, implemented as a fun, but fleeting alcove that makes pursuing the main games intended, though exhausting story feel significantly more bearable. But it’s a testament to Squire Enix subtle persuasion implementations, that should be diversions rather obsessions, that distract you from the free-flowing combat and throughly engrossing narratives.

The games fleeting narratives will end abruptly and all too soon, but trust me when I say, that the experience and lasting impressions certainly won’t.

What are your first impressions of Sleeping Dogs? And have you ever succumb to the manipulations of some juvenile obsession? Let me know your thoughts and experiences.